Bucs Da'Quan Bowers suffers possible season-ending Achilles injury

Defensive end Da'Quan Bowers has suffered a torn right Achilles tendon, the team announced, and is scheduled to undergo what could be a season-ending surgery.

In response to the news, the Bucs have decided to waive former LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and retained defensive lineman Myles Wade, who was originally going to be waived to make room on the roster for receiver Tiquan Underwood.

Jefferson was part of the group of tryout players who were retained after strong performances in the rookie minicamp over the weekend.

Bowers could not immediately be reached for comment, but he vowed via a post on his Twitter page to return swiftly.

"2013?? Get real... I'm playing THIS year 2012," he wrote.

Whether that's possible remains to be seen, but it's not completely out of the question. Last offseason, the Bucs in April announced long snapper Andrew Economos suffered a torn Achilles tendon. After spending the first six-plus weeks of the season on the Physically Unable to Perform List, Economos returned to the lineup in November and finished the season.

A torn Achilles almost always ensures a player will be lost for the season, but because Bowers' injury did not occur during the season, its timing might permit him to make a late-season return. But that would require the team to hold his roster spot for weeks on end without any assurance he'll be able to play.

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